I am very bad at talking to strangers specially when I have no clear purpose. I cannot be one of those guys who have game. And by game I mean a topic. Because, I don't think there is no need to talk to a stranger unless you are lost and need directions or that stranger happens to own a shop or is serving tables at a restaurant.
Showing posts with label memoir. Show all posts
Showing posts with label memoir. Show all posts
Friday, 22 January 2016
Sunday, 3 January 2016
Christmas and me.
As a kid, I was fascinated with Christmas. A Christian family lived in the neighbourhood and we would get to see the Christmas tree decorations and eat donuts.
Tuesday, 13 January 2015
Interesting People Around Me.
The Coffee Guy
The hospital in which I work has a Cafeteria. Sitting in my chair, I can just dial 400 on the intercom and the Barista brings me coffee and snacks as ordered. I have made friends with the guy. His name is Ishu Sharma and he is a UP-ite with a Gujarati accent. He doesn’t like to use the electric grill on the sandwiches because he thinks the grill occasionally gives electric shocks. He is an English Literature graduate but all his knowledge has either withered away or was never there as he can hardly read and write in English. There is an India everyone silently knows about. Our educational degrees are a sham and our system is built on nepotism and wily networks.
The guy is fine with it though. He is content pouring coffee for random people throughout the day and likes to make friends with new doctors like myself who can help with his small curious inquiries. He is fascinated easily and can talk at length about things he doesn’t know about.
He told me that his father has the habit of forgetfulness and sometimes forgets obvious things. The details he gave indicate progressive Alzheimer’s disease and the drugs prescribed by other doctors to his father more or less confirmed the diagnosis. He keeps forgetting to mix sugar in my coffee and I am afraid he will inherit his father’s condition.
He proposed a theory to me recently and it is interesting for its unscientific-ness and silliness. He said that if two people were given objects carved out from a bigger parent object, and were made to associate themselves with those objects in their daily lives, their lives are bound to intertwine as a part of the common fate associated with the objects given to them.
To put this absurd theory in more vivid light, he proposes that if there was a large diamond and two pendants were carved out of it and were given to two different people to wear as lockets, rings or bracelets, the pendants will attract each other bringing the two people closer.
Silly theory but it depicts how hope springs fiercely and against logic where adversity is stronger. He is a man with scarce means and that’s why he romanticizes life and is able to see the world through the eyes of his fantasy. Is that why the best writers in history have faced poverty at one or other point of time? Does scarcity push imagination?
Do you believe in his theory too? Et tu?
Gurgaon is essentially the city where everything costs a little more than normal. Maybe because everyone has a little more than normal. Of course, that statement excludes the daily wage labourers and manual workers. So yeah, I took the rickshaw and we started with a tense air. The air was tense because the bargain had started at Rs 100 and he was grumpy to have conceded Rs 40 in the bargain. It was only when I had threatened to walk away that he got convinced for the ride.
We went to the hospital quietly and he drove in silence too. On our way back, he began to ask questions as he realized that I was a doctor and was going to the hospital for some fancy urgent work. I decided to engage and replied to his questions. I even asked him to get a check-up done in my clinic. He immediately brought up the topic of affordability and like a novice, I offered him free consultation. I am very liberal with my consultation fee because I feel that the power of healing should be used liberally.
Later on, he told me that his younger brother (he himself looked not older than 16) was working in a dental clinic and was earning a handsome salary. I urged him to stay ambitious and try for such jobs which require technical skill. To my surprise, he told me that he was already married and had to bear the burden of his family. That was the main reason he was unable to freely go job-hunting and field-switching.
I told him that marriage is a big responsibility and should be taken only when one is ready. We talked about marriage as if it was something he was lamenting and I was running away from. Only in the last leg of our short trip he dropped the bomb when he said that his marriage was a ‘love marriage’ and he himself had pushed for it.
My parting words to him were that he then already has everything a person dreams for. We dream, we earn, we work to finally be happy with our loved ones. He had love and happiness. His joy of togetherness trumped my quest for survival.
Sometimes, in our small little, we lose sight of the real targets. Maybe there is nothing to take away from this story, maybe life is just as random as it gets, maybe life is just a series of mood swings.
But, there are times when we WANT and NEED to make sense. Love helps there.
The hospital in which I work has a Cafeteria. Sitting in my chair, I can just dial 400 on the intercom and the Barista brings me coffee and snacks as ordered. I have made friends with the guy. His name is Ishu Sharma and he is a UP-ite with a Gujarati accent. He doesn’t like to use the electric grill on the sandwiches because he thinks the grill occasionally gives electric shocks. He is an English Literature graduate but all his knowledge has either withered away or was never there as he can hardly read and write in English. There is an India everyone silently knows about. Our educational degrees are a sham and our system is built on nepotism and wily networks.
The guy is fine with it though. He is content pouring coffee for random people throughout the day and likes to make friends with new doctors like myself who can help with his small curious inquiries. He is fascinated easily and can talk at length about things he doesn’t know about.
He told me that his father has the habit of forgetfulness and sometimes forgets obvious things. The details he gave indicate progressive Alzheimer’s disease and the drugs prescribed by other doctors to his father more or less confirmed the diagnosis. He keeps forgetting to mix sugar in my coffee and I am afraid he will inherit his father’s condition.
He proposed a theory to me recently and it is interesting for its unscientific-ness and silliness. He said that if two people were given objects carved out from a bigger parent object, and were made to associate themselves with those objects in their daily lives, their lives are bound to intertwine as a part of the common fate associated with the objects given to them.
To put this absurd theory in more vivid light, he proposes that if there was a large diamond and two pendants were carved out of it and were given to two different people to wear as lockets, rings or bracelets, the pendants will attract each other bringing the two people closer.
Silly theory but it depicts how hope springs fiercely and against logic where adversity is stronger. He is a man with scarce means and that’s why he romanticizes life and is able to see the world through the eyes of his fantasy. Is that why the best writers in history have faced poverty at one or other point of time? Does scarcity push imagination?
Do you believe in his theory too? Et tu?
The Rickshaw Guy
So, last Saturday, I had to take an auto-rickshaw to go to the hospital to take care of some important lab work. I took a rickshaw from my colony to the hospital and back, which would have been a trip of around 3.5 kms. I convinced him to make the round trip for Rs 60 which was an achievement considering that it was night time and it was Gurgaon.Gurgaon is essentially the city where everything costs a little more than normal. Maybe because everyone has a little more than normal. Of course, that statement excludes the daily wage labourers and manual workers. So yeah, I took the rickshaw and we started with a tense air. The air was tense because the bargain had started at Rs 100 and he was grumpy to have conceded Rs 40 in the bargain. It was only when I had threatened to walk away that he got convinced for the ride.
We went to the hospital quietly and he drove in silence too. On our way back, he began to ask questions as he realized that I was a doctor and was going to the hospital for some fancy urgent work. I decided to engage and replied to his questions. I even asked him to get a check-up done in my clinic. He immediately brought up the topic of affordability and like a novice, I offered him free consultation. I am very liberal with my consultation fee because I feel that the power of healing should be used liberally.
Later on, he told me that his younger brother (he himself looked not older than 16) was working in a dental clinic and was earning a handsome salary. I urged him to stay ambitious and try for such jobs which require technical skill. To my surprise, he told me that he was already married and had to bear the burden of his family. That was the main reason he was unable to freely go job-hunting and field-switching.
I told him that marriage is a big responsibility and should be taken only when one is ready. We talked about marriage as if it was something he was lamenting and I was running away from. Only in the last leg of our short trip he dropped the bomb when he said that his marriage was a ‘love marriage’ and he himself had pushed for it.
My parting words to him were that he then already has everything a person dreams for. We dream, we earn, we work to finally be happy with our loved ones. He had love and happiness. His joy of togetherness trumped my quest for survival.
Sometimes, in our small little, we lose sight of the real targets. Maybe there is nothing to take away from this story, maybe life is just as random as it gets, maybe life is just a series of mood swings.
But, there are times when we WANT and NEED to make sense. Love helps there.
Thursday, 1 January 2015
2014 in review
2014 was a great year for me. It gave me so many memories and new directions that I am literally overwhelmed. True, my search of 'true love' and other corny things didn't lead me anywhere but life has been eventful.
This was the year I started working in SmileArc Dental Clinic, Mayom Hospital and the experience has been delightful. I am so happy to have such helpful seniors who let me have this opportunity. My experiences with patients have been humbling and educative. I have had patients who wanted to hold my hand during anaesthesia injections, patients who would ask too many questions, patients who wanted free goodies, patients who wanted to bargain for the costs of the treatment. They have all been my teachers. And the learning curve has been immensely gratifying.
This was also the year I moved to Gurgaon from New Delhi and discovered another world. A world where pedestrians are an abomination and cars are the norm. I like the high rise buildings and the broad roads but I hope the people took to walking a little more. I like how pizza delivery boys are everywhere here. I like how now cheese crust is now available for regular size pizza too.
This was also the year when I again thought of giving love a chance. Well, that chapter will unfold in 2015. This year wasn't that eventful.
It was also the year I went to Mussoorie and met Ruskin Bond! It was a dream come true and the most amazing thing is that the person who was an inspiration behind it was just a chance encounter. Sometimes, people come to your life just to give you something that belonged to you. I still remember the moment when I handed my hand-drawn card to Mr Bond and he smiled when he saw it. I am beginning to believe in destiny.
As a blogger, this year brought me immense joy as I had these two emails in my inbox from two leading blogging portals in India-
This was the year I started working in SmileArc Dental Clinic, Mayom Hospital and the experience has been delightful. I am so happy to have such helpful seniors who let me have this opportunity. My experiences with patients have been humbling and educative. I have had patients who wanted to hold my hand during anaesthesia injections, patients who would ask too many questions, patients who wanted free goodies, patients who wanted to bargain for the costs of the treatment. They have all been my teachers. And the learning curve has been immensely gratifying.
This was also the year I moved to Gurgaon from New Delhi and discovered another world. A world where pedestrians are an abomination and cars are the norm. I like the high rise buildings and the broad roads but I hope the people took to walking a little more. I like how pizza delivery boys are everywhere here. I like how now cheese crust is now available for regular size pizza too.
This was also the year when I again thought of giving love a chance. Well, that chapter will unfold in 2015. This year wasn't that eventful.
It was also the year I went to Mussoorie and met Ruskin Bond! It was a dream come true and the most amazing thing is that the person who was an inspiration behind it was just a chance encounter. Sometimes, people come to your life just to give you something that belonged to you. I still remember the moment when I handed my hand-drawn card to Mr Bond and he smiled when he saw it. I am beginning to believe in destiny.
As a blogger, this year brought me immense joy as I had these two emails in my inbox from two leading blogging portals in India-
Things like these make life awesome, don't they?
It was also the year I started reading fiction again and how! I have come a long way with my book reviews and am getting requests to review newly launched books on a regular basis. So, the year was good for my blog too.
Yes, there were lows on the career front. I couldn't clear the UPSC prelims, there was hopelessness after seeing the cut-throat competition in dentistry in India. There was heartbreak and loneliness but now as I enter 2015, those low points seem to disappear into oblivion.
Cheers to a happy new year!
Saturday, 27 December 2014
IB Happy Hours- Kinley- Sachchai
Sometimes when telling the truth could get us into trouble, we tend to lie or omit details to avoid it. Although this seems like a great temporary solution, it weighs on our conscience. In a blog post, tell us about a time in your life where telling the truth was the right thing to do.
I have always sided with truth in all my life decisions- some tough, some not so tough. It was not because I needed to prove anything to anyone. It was only because truth is easy. Yes, sometimes it is uncomfortable and painful, but if you see the long term repercussions, truth is the only way to go. It also helps if you have a bad memory which I do. In case you're telling a lie, you need to remember a lot of details. But in case of the truth, you just state the facts.
One time in my life when I decided to come clean and it helped me in the long run happened in college. I had a huge crush on this girl who happened to be my friend. Now, sometimes if you mess friendships up with love and suchlike emotions, the other person doesn't appreciate it. It almost spells doomsday for your friendship too and that's why most guys keep their emotions under covers.
I was one of those guys. I kept my feelings to myself and carried on with the day to day affairs. Life was great and our friendship was getting stronger. She had no hint that I had feelings for her and I did nothing to display my emotions for the fear of the unknown.
Then one day, I decided that I need to tell it to her just because I needed to know my chances. In my heart, I knew that she had no clue about my feelings and hadn't thought about us being together in her wildest of dreams but I wanted to take no chances. There was a 'what if she liked me back too' there and I wanted that 'what if' to go away and that's when I spilled the beans, told the truth. She was obviously taken aback and wondered how long I had been hiding those feelings. To her horror, I was infatuated with her since the very beginning and the revelation made things quite awkward between us.
She had no such feelings for me and we started growing apart due to my one-sided emotion as expected. I regretted telling her the truth but I knew I had to get it out of my system. It was the only healthy option to me. Days passed and one day she texted me telling me that she missed me. I told her that I missed her too. We joked about old days and old stupidities and started talking again.
The next day, we met and talked like nothing had happened. I took the rejection on my chin and wore it like a medal. I joked about it, she appreciated how I wasn't cross with her. It turned out that her only fear was that I'd become weird once she turned me down. I couldn't but smile at the absurd idea. I had no expectations from her. I had no ulterior motives. It was just something I needed to tell her and I wanted no acknowledgement. If she would have said that she liked me that way too, it would have been great but if that didn't happen, it didn't make me a grumpy ol' fart. She was glad to know that I hadn't changed.
It had been three years to that incident and our friendship has stood the test of time. We are still in touch, we love each other as friends and talk often. If anything, the truth-telling session made our relationship stronger and more honest. Since then, I have been a fan of the art of truth-telling and practise it often.
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